Vehicle wheel



April 1941' v J. CAPUCIATI 2,238,410

muons WHEEL Filed Aug. 26, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 In vgntor A itorncys April 15, 1941. J. CAPUCIATI VEHICLE WHEEL Filed Aug. 26, 1958- 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 v Inventor Jzzsgvfi l a azzcz'afz' 7 By ma ,3

Aiiorr eys Patented Apr. 15, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE vanr c rfr z grzmnn Q I Joseph Capuclati, New York, N. Y.

2 Claims.

This invention appertains to new and useful improvements in vehicle wheels and more particularly to a wheel assembly in the category of wheel structures of the present day knee action type."

The principal object of the present invention is to provide an improved wheel distinguishes itself from the conventional "knee action type wheel by the qualification of being self-contained.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a wheel structure wherein the wheel proper is suspended by spring means to take care of unevenness of terrain and to absorb shocks in a much more eflicient and satisfactory manner than through the agency of such means as are now generally and conventionally employed and known as knee action devices.

These and other important objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to the reader of the following specification.

- In the drawings- Figure 1 represents a vertical sectional view through the improved wheel.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary detailed sectional view.

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view through the upper portion of the stem.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings wherein like numerals designate like parts, it can be seen in the drawings, that numeral I represents the usual chassis frame from which extends the pair of arms I and I, vertically spaced. These arms are attached to the chassis frame by a plate 8 and outwardly tapering web 8 extends from the plate I to brace and reinforce the arms 6 and 1.

Numeral l8 denotes a frame-like structure,

into the vertically extending elongated opening ll of which extends the extension 12 of the hub II. The axle shaft II has a pin and slot drive connection l4 and IS in conjunction with the extension l2. A sectional annulus l6 circumscribing the hub II is provided with the internal circumferentially extending flange II which interlaps the rear side of the hub l3. Interposed between the hollow annulus I8 and the hub II are the ball hearing assemblies l8 and IS. A removable flanged ring is secured to the outstanding flange 2| of the hollow annulus I! by screws 22 and this flanged ring 2! overlaps the outermost ball bearing assembly I! as in the manner substantially shown in Figure 1.

structure which This hollow assembly l6 consists of the band 23 between which and the hub ii, the ball hearing assemblies are located and from which extends the back wall 24 attached to the vertical plate 25 at one upper portion and the plate 26 at another portion. These plates 25 and 26 are provided with horizontally disposed bridge portions 21 and 28, respectively thereof. 1

The aforementioned frame l0 has its vertical side portions of hollow construction and each side portion has the downwardly extending sleeve 29 therein which slidably receives the corresponding barrel 30 and inside of this barrel 30 is the plunger 3| carried by the stem 32, this stem 32 being anchored at its lower end as at 33 to the closed bottom 34 of the said sleeve 29. The lower end of the barrel 30 has a closure plug 35 fixed therein with an opening therethrough packed to slidably receive the said stem 32.

The upper portion of the stem 32 has a bore 36 opening through the side of the stem 22 and as at 21 below the plunger 3| while its upper.

end opens into the barrel 3!! above the plunger 31 and therein is provided the ball check valve 28.

2A coiled compression spring 39 is provided in the upper portion of the barrel 20 between the plunger 3| and the upper end of the barrel and this is provided with a fliler plug 40 permitting replenishment of liquid, such as anti-freeze liquid in the barrel 30.

A tube 4| is slidably disposed into the hollow side member of each frame to circumscribe the lower portion of the corresponding sleeve 2!. As can be seen in Figure 2, the lower portion of the tube II has the oil filler plugs 42 and each of these tubes ll is supported by the lower bridge structure 28, while the upper bridge structure 21 carries the barrels 30.

A coiled compression spring 43 is interposed between the bottom of the tube 4| and the top of the particular side portion of the frame It as in the manner substantially shown in Figure 2. 1

It can also be seen in the drawings that the plunger H has by-pass openings 44 therein. These by-pass openings and the plunger in conjunction with the spring and associated spring 43 of course take care of snubblng the resilient action of the 'wheelbesldes offering a compensatory action of the wheel when the vehicle is traveling over an uneven terrain.

As can be seen in Figures 1 and 2, the upper and lower ends of the frame ID are provided with pintles I which extend through the corresponding arms 0 and I, thus swingably connecting the wheel assembly aioredescribed to the arms I and I.

Numeral 4 denotes a tie rod connection between frame ll of complementary wheel.

As is apparent in Figure 1, the annulus I6 is made up of sections consisting of the back wall 24 and ring 23 in complement with section 41 which has an inwardly disposed flange bolted as at II to the hub l3. With this construction, the section ll of the annulus l8 rotates independently of the back plate section 24. Numeral ll represents a hub cap, while numeral SI represents the wheel disk or center which is suitably secured as by bolting to the hub II as at I! and rotates with the hub l3. Numeral II represents the usual tire rim.

While the foregoing specification sets forth the invention in specific terms, it is to be understood that numerous changes in the shape, size and material may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed hereinafter.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

'1. In combination with a vehicle chassis, a wheel having a hub, a pair of vertically spaced arms projecting rigidly from the chassis, a vertically disposed frame having its upper and lower ends pivoted to the outer ends of the arms, cylinders carried by the side portions of the frame. a back wall section carried by the wheel, said hub being rotatable with respect to the back wall section, plunger members carried by the back wall section and extending into the cylinders, and compression springs in the cylinders against which the members on the back wall section are operative, said plunger members extending downwardly and upwardly into the cylinders from the upper and lower portions of the back wall section and being in telescopic relation to each other.

2. In combination with a vehicle chassis, a wheel having a hub, a pair of vertically spaced arms projecting rigidly from the chassis, a vertically disposed frame having its upper and lower ends pivoted to the outer ends of the arms, cylinders carried by the side portions of the frame, a back wall section carried by the wheel, said hub being rotatable with respect to the back wall section, plunger members carried by the back wall section and extending into the cylinders, and compression springs in the cylinders against which the members on the back wall section are operative, said back wall section provided with an annulus overlapping the hub and bearing means between the annulus and the hub.

JOSEPH CAPUCIATI. 

